Research by psychotherapist Anne Huntjens demonstrates that Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) is an effective and safe treatment for individuals with autism and chronic suicidality.
People with autism are at a heightened risk of suicidality, but until now, little was known about effective treatments for this group. “This lack of knowledge has led to uncertainty within treatment teams, societal concerns, and high costs due to frequent hospitalisations and inadequate treatments,” explains Anne Huntjens. Huntjens, who works as a psychotherapist, conducted doctoral research at VU Amsterdam to explore what could be an effective treatment for individuals with autism and chronic suicidality.
Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) is a proven treatment programme for chronic suicidality, focusing on improving emotion regulation, impulse control, and social skills—areas that are often particularly challenging for individuals with autism. While the effectiveness of DBT has been well-documented in other psychiatric conditions, there was previously no scientific evidence supporting its success in people with autism.
Implementation and Results
In a large-scale study involving 123 adults with autism and chronic suicidality, conducted at six specialised mental health institutions in the Netherlands, Huntjens compared the effectiveness of DBT with usual care. Of the participants, 63 received DBT, while 60 underwent standard care. The effectiveness of the treatments was measured at three points: the start of therapy, immediately after completion, and six months post-treatment.
“DBT focuses more than usual care on the specific challenges of individuals within their personal circumstances,” says Huntjens. “It places less emphasis on diagnostic labels as the foundation for treatment.”
The results were promising. Participants who received DBT showed significantly fewer suicidal thoughts, fewer suicide attempts, and fewer depressive symptoms compared to the control group. Their personal and social functioning, emotion regulation, and quality of life also improved. “These positive effects were still evident even a year later,” says Huntjens. Additionally, DBT was found to be cost-effective, had a low dropout rate, and received positive feedback from both participants and therapists.
Thanks to this research, there is now scientific evidence that DBT is both effective and safe for individuals with autism and suicidality. This paves the way for broader implementation of this treatment approach within mental healthcare. Huntjens concludes: “By developing specific treatment protocols and disseminating this knowledge, we can achieve better health outcomes while also supporting therapists and society in effectively addressing suicidality in individuals with autism.”